Donald Hubert Kelly

Our much loved Donald Kelly died on August 4, 2026 at the age of 96 concluding what he often described as “a terrific life.” He was born in 1930 in Orange, New Jersey to John L. Kelly Jr. and Marian Slater Kelly. He spent his youth in Maplewood, New Jersey and graduated from Columbia High School.

With no money for college, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1949. He was deployed to Korea in 1950 as a member of the 1st Marine Division. That division of 12,000 to 15,000 marines was ordered to fight their way through the mountains to the Yalu River, near the Chosin Reservoir and the border with China, where the marines were surround by an army of 120,000 to 150,000 Chinese soldiers. Don’s 1st Marine Division was ordered to “advance in a different direction,” and then to “attack to the rear” to break the encirclement, all in sub-arctic conditions where temperatures dropped as low as negative 35 degrees. Obstacles along the escape “road,” which was not much larger than an actively defended cart path, included destruction by the Chinese of the Funchilin Pass bridge and multiple well defended checkpoints. In what has become Marine Corps lore, the 1st Division surmounted these obstacles, marched 78 miles to reach the Hungnam Port, and escaped the Chinese Army on their waiting transport ships. In their march to safety, the 1st Division assisted more than 100,000 Koreans and the remnants of the U.S. Army’s 7th Division in reaching safety as well. Many in South Korea remember the incredible march of the “Chosin Marines,” also called the “Frozen Chosin.” Don never spoke of this time in Korea until he reached his late 70’s, and his time on the transport ship left him with a hatred of sushi. However, he greatly appreciated the award the South Korean President bestowed upon him in 2023 for protecting the Korean people.

Upon his return to the U.S. in 1952, he attended Seton Hall University in New Jersey using the GI Bill and graduated with his degree in organic chemistry. He received a scholarship to the University of Oklahoma and obtained his PhD in organic chemistry there, and met his wife, Linda Hensley Kelly. After obtaining his advanced degree, he worked in chemistry for Olin in Brandenburg, KY, for Chemagro (a subsidiary of Bayer) in Kansas City, MO, and for Norwich Pharmaceutical Co (now a subsidiary of Procter & Gamble). in Norwich NY, where he held patents for improvements in production processes for Pepto Bismol and Chloraseptic.

In 1975, he returned to El Reno, Oklahoma to work in partnership with his wife, Linda, to manage and expand the Hensley family businesses, including Hensley’s Restaurant and the El Reno Best Western motel.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Linda, his daughter Mary Lynn Kelly Coffee and son-in-law Bill Coffee; his son, John L. Kelly IV and daughter-in-law, Sadhna Kelly; his five granddaughters, Sarah Coffee, Samantha Hill and husband Ryan, Allison Kelly and fiancé Obi Emegano, Emily Coffee and wife Allegra, and Hannah Ciupak and husband Mitchell; his nieces Dona Lee Deninger, Dori May Ganisin, Ann Marie Miller and Marion Dryburgh; and his Godchildren Maureen Mannas and David Lewis. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother John L. Kelly III, his sister Anne Lucking, and her son Michael.

Don loved to read nonfiction, play tennis (until the age of 92) and travel with his wife and family. He so enjoyed all the places he visited in the U.S and abroad. We will remember him for his strength, patience, kindness and integrity. Like Will Rogers, “[h]e never met a man he didn’t like.”

A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m on Friday, October 2, 2026 at St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church, 600 Garth Brooks Blvd., Yukon, OK. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to one of the philanthropies he supported: the Manna Pantry in Yukon, the El Reno public school foundation, or Think Education in Orange County, California.